Justification:
A shrub endemic to Ecuador, where it is common in the northern and central Andes. Known from more than 40 subpopulations, most of them reported from the Cayambe-Coca, Llanganates, Sangay, Cotacachi-Cayapas and Antisana protected areas. Although the species is widely distributed and inside Ecuador’s protected areas network, populations are threatened by deforestation and fires set by humans.